Las Cruces, NM at a glance
Median household income
$55,422$4,619 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Las Cruces, NM?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Las Cruces, NM? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Las Cruces, NM MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $744 | $8,928 | $29,760 | 16.1% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $951 | $11,412 | $38,040 | 20.6% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,042 | $12,504 | $41,680 | 22.6% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,449 | $17,388 | $57,960 | 31.4% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,580 | $18,960 | $63,200 | 34.2% |
What a typical income covers in Las Cruces, NM
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $55,422 a year ($4,619 a month before tax).
What $55,422 leaves after New Mexico taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and New Mexico tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in New Mexico
Living in Las Cruces, NM: common questions
What is the median household income in Las Cruces, NM?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Las Cruces, NM is $55,422 per year (approximately $4,619 per month).
What is the average rent in Las Cruces, NM?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $744 for a studio, $951 for one bedroom, $1,042 for two, $1,449 for three and $1,580 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Las Cruces, NM expensive to live in?
Prices there run 9.8% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 90.2, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Las Cruces, NM?
To keep a $1,042 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $41,680 a year, or $3,473 a month. That is 75% of what the typical household in Las Cruces, NM earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Las Cruces, NM?
On the local median income of $55,422 ($4,619 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,309 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,386 for everything else and $924 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,042 takes 45% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Las Cruces, NM?
Homes in New Mexico paid 15.1¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $136. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.